Darwin-L Message Log 2:89 (October 1993)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<2:89>From LARRYS@psc.plymouth.edu  Sat Oct 16 00:29:14 1993

Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1993 15:35:54 -0500 (EST)
From: LARRYS@psc.plymouth.edu
Subject: Re: manuscript polymorphism
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Organization: Plymouth State College, Plymouth NH

Another idea crossed my mind, not one necessarily related to manuscript
polymorphism, but perhaps related to how some gene sequences remain un
changed for long periods of time.  The example was published someplace
sometime ago (I can not remember where or when).  It relates to the fact
that in General Biology textbooks, when the evolution of the horse is
described, the textbook authors state that Eohippus, one of the ancestral
forms, was the size of a (an I may have this somewhat wrong) collier/
terrier, a dog from the coal mines of Wales.  What is interesting, is the
fact that this dog is no longer a very common breed of dog, yet the
textbook writers rather than mutating the dog into a modern day form of
dog, eg, golden retriever, poodle, etc., continue to use the old name
as referenced in earlier textbooks.

Larry Spencer
lts@oz.plymouth.edu

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